AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki
The Oklahoma City Thunder have declined the $1.9 million team option in the
contract of guard Luguentz Dort for the 2022-23 NBA season, according to The Athletic and Stadium’s Shams Charania.
The decision makes Dort a restricted free agent and allows the two sides to negotiate a new deal, Charania added.
Dort has made steady progress since
signing with OKC as an undrafted free agent in 2019.
The 23-year-old averaged career highs in points (17.2), rebounds (4.2) and
three-pointers (2.5) during the 2021-22 campaign, but his season came to a premature end in February because of a shoulder injury.
Despite Dort’s continued improvement, his
offensive efficiency remains a concern as he knocked down just 40.4
percent of his shots, including 33.2 percent of his threes, across 51
appearances. He did convert on 84.3 percent of his free-throw
attempts, though.
In April, the Arizona State product explained he was focused
on his recovery from the injury and not a potential contract
extension with the Thunder, saying his agent would handle those
discussions.
“It’s healing. It’s getting better. … I still got about two, three months before being back at 100
percent,” Dort told reporters. “I’m really taking my time with
that.”
The Montreal native did say he felt
Oklahoma City was in position to make a major leap next season.
“We’re going to be a team that shocks
people,” Dort said.
The Thunder’s decision to decline the
team option is an even bigger shock. Between his gradual improvement
and team-friendly salary for next season, it seemed like a
virtual lock the front office would keep him for another year while
working on a long-term extension.
Instead, the 6’3″ Dort will head into free
agency and should emerge as a highly coveted target on the open
market. He could fit either as a secondary contributor on a
championship contender or another high-upside building block for a
team looking toward the future.
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